The 32 Best Google Docs Shortcuts of 2023

Discover how to save time while you get more done

By
S.E. Slack
S. E. Slack
S.E. Slack
Senior Strategy & Editorial Director, Lifewire.com
  • California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo
S.E. Slack has 30+ years' experience writing about technology. She has authored 12 books, thousands of articles, and worked for IBM and Microsoft.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on January 31, 2023

Keyboard shortcuts can be your best friend when you're trying to get things done so you can wrap up your work for the day. There are a variety of Google Docs shortcuts you can use to move quickly through your document. Here are our favorites.

Hand typing on keyboard
PBNJ Productions/Getty Images 

All of our favorite shortcuts were tested on a Windows 10 PC using Google Docs in Google Chrome, but there are also plenty of Mac shortcuts available if you're a macOS fan.

Selecting Text   
Select all text in the document Ctrl + a
Extend the selection one character (before or after) Shift + left or right arrow
Extend the selection one word (before or after) Ctrl + Shift + left or right arrow
Extend the selection one line (before or after) Ctrl + up or down arrow
Formatting Text (highlight the text first)  
Bold Ctrl + b
Italicize Ctrl + i
Strikethrough  Alt + Shift + 5
Superscript Ctrl + .
Subscript Ctrl + ,
Increase font size Ctrl + Shift + >
Underline Ctrl + u
Decrease font size Ctrl + Shift + <
Apply normal text style Ctrl + Alt + 0
Formatting Paragraphs (place cursor anywhere in the text you want to move)  
Increase indentation Ctrl + ]
Decrease indentation Ctrl + [
Right align Ctrl + Shift + r
Left align Ctrl + Shift + r
Justify Ctrl + Shift + j
Bulleted list Ctrl + Shift + 8
Numbered list Ctrl + Shift + 7
Navigating Through the Document  
Page up or down in the document Alt + up/down arrow
Move to the next heading hold Ctrl + Alt, then press n, then h
Move to the previous heading hold Ctrl + Alt, then press p then h
Move to the next item on a current list Ctrl + Alt, then press n,  then i
Navigating Inside a Table (cursor must be inside the table)  
Move to the beginning of a table  Hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift, then press t, then s
Move to the beginning of a table column Hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift, then press t, then d
Move to the next column  Hold Ctrl + Alt _ Shift, then press t, then b
Move to a previous column Hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift, then press t, then v
Move to the beginning of a table row Hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift, then press t, then j
Move to the next table row Hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift, then press t, then m
Move to a previous table row Hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift, then press t, then g
Exit the table Hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press t, then e
Was this page helpful?